What are the psalms of praise?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Psalms of praise are songs that glorify God for His character, mighty works, and faithfulness, often expressing joy, gratitude, and adoration. They focus on who God is rather than personal struggles, lifting His name in worship and declaring His greatness. Psalms is a book of songs, many of which the Israelites used in corporate worship and would have been accompanied by musical instruments. These psalms contain psalms of praise. However, not all of the psalms are for the explicit purpose of praising God. The full spectrum of human emotion is represented within these poetic songs, from joy and praise to lament and despair. In addition to psalms of praise, categories of biblical psalms include thanksgiving songs, laments, and songs of ascent. Most psalms, even if they are filled with negative emotions such as sorrow, anger or fear, end up at a place of praising or putting trust in the Lord.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Psalms of praise in the Bible include Psalm 8, 19, 29, 33, 47, 65, 66, 96, 100, 103, 111, 113, and 145—150, which exalt God for His majesty, power, faithfulness, and mighty works.
• Psalm 100:4 is part of a psalm of praise; it says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"
• Another example of a psalm of praise would be Psalm 150, which begins and ends with a proclamation to "Praise the LORD!" and contains the word "praise" thirteen times within its six verses. It tells us to praise God for His "mighty deeds" and "according to his excellent greatness" (Psalm 150:2) and tells us to use dance and instruments to praise Him (Psalm 150:3–5).
• Even in the midst of his pain, King David anticipates returning to a place of praise and trust in the Lord: "Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God" (Psalm 43:4–5).
• Psalm 103:2–5 exhorts:
• "Bless the LORD, O my soul,
• and forget not all his benefits,
• who forgives all your iniquity,
• who heals all your diseases,
• who redeems your life from the pit,
• who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
• who satisfies you with good
• so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
• Though not part of the book of Psalms, Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1–10 is a song of praise for God. She prayed, in part, “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God” (verses 1–2).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Mary’s song in Luke 1:46–55 shows her praise:
• “My soul magnifies the Lord,
• and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
• for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
• For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
• for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
• and holy is his name” (verses 46–49).
• Ephesians 1:12 says that our salvation has a purpose within it: "the praise of his glory."
• We are told to encourage one another with “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” in Ephesians 5:19.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Many of the psalms were written for the specific purpose of bringing praise and thanksgiving to God. These are known as the psalms of praise. These psalms show us that we can best enter God's presence from a place of thanksgiving (Psalm 95:2).

The psalms of praise exalt God for His forgiveness and perfect character (Psalm 103:2–3), for His protection and deliverance (Psalm 32:7), for His lordship (Psalm 47:6–8), for His creation and care for mankind (Psalm 103:13–14; 139:13–15), and for the beautiful nature He has created (Psalm 19:1; 89:5; 148:3). Psalm 145 is an excellent example of a psalm of praise; it praises God for His kingship, for His forgiveness and care for us, and for His perfect attributes. Just as the Israelites placed a strong emphasis on praising the Lord, so should we. God is worthy of all praise; He is unchanging. We cannot let our circumstances or the cares of life invade our minds and lead us to complaining instead of praising. It is important for us to keep all the reasons we have to praise God at the forefront of our minds and on our lips as we go about our days, talk to God, and interact with others (Philippians 4:4–8; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

UNDERSTAND

• Psalms of praise glorify God’s character, works, and faithfulness.
• Believers are called to continually praise God both to Him and to others.
• Praising God in words and songs should be a regular part of a believer’s life.

REFLECT

• How can you incorporate more praise into your daily life, even in the midst of your circumstances?
• What attributes of God do you find most worthy of praise, and how do they impact your faith?
• When have you experienced a shift in your heart by choosing to praise God instead of focusing on struggles?

ENGAGE

• Why does the Bible emphasize praising God both individually and in community?
• What are some practical ways we can encourage others to express their praise for God through words and actions?
• Why should we focus on God’s greatness in light of our challenges?